The Botox-Free Guide To Looking Younger

If there's one thing age has taught us, it's that gravity can be a bitch. As we get older, our skin begins to lose elasticity as a result of damage to the collagen and elastin fibers, as well as age-related changes to the fat pads under our skin. "Most of this damage is from the sun, but lifestyle factors such as smoking can also cause skin to lose elasticity faster," says Dr. Anne Chapas, a dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in NYC. For many women, this signals that it's time to reach for injectables like Botox or Restalyne to help re-plump a sagging visage.

Most of the derms we spoke with said there are very few downsides to using these types of fillers and wrinkle relaxers, provided they are administered properly and in moderation by your doctor, but we've seen one too many Real Housewives episodes to be down with shooting our faces up with chemicals. That's why we asked a variety of health experts — an acupuncturist, a nutritionist, and two dermatologists — to weigh in on the latest anti-aging alternatives.

While the results might not be as drastic as resorting to fillers, they can still make your complexion refreshed, plumped, and healthy without any unnatural looking side effects. Read on for our favorite ways to give your skin the lifted look without going under the knife (or needle).